Which welding process uses a consumable electrode that is continuously fed and typically uses shielding gas for protection in many applications?

Which welding process uses a consumable electrode that is continuously fed and typically uses shielding gas for protection in many applications?

• A. SMAW (Stick)
• B. FCAW (Flux-Cored Arc Welding)
• C. GMAW (MIG)
• D. GTAW (TIG)

Answer: (C)

This describes Gas Metal Arc Welding, commonly called MIG. In MIG, the filler electrode is a consumable wire that is fed continuously through the welding gun toward the arc. The arc melts the wire and base metal, and shielding gas is introduced around the weld to protect the molten pool from the atmosphere, giving a stable arc and good weld quality. Shielding gas options include CO2, argon, or a mixture, and this gas shielding is a defining feature for many MIG applications. Other methods either don’t use a continuously fed wire, rely on flux for shielding, or use a nonconsumable electrode, so they don’t fit the described combination as neatly.

This describes Gas Metal Arc Welding, commonly called MIG. In MIG, the filler electrode is a consumable wire that is fed continuously through the welding gun toward the arc. The arc melts the wire and base metal, and shielding gas is introduced around the weld to protect the molten pool from the atmosphere, giving a stable arc and good weld quality. Shielding gas options include CO2, argon, or a mixture, and this gas shielding is a defining feature for many MIG applications. Other methods either don’t use a continuously fed wire, rely on flux for shielding, or use a nonconsumable electrode, so they don’t fit the described combination as neatly.